Dunbar welcomed second place Livingston on Saturday with both teams coming out after an unseasonal hailstone shower which made for tricky conditions underfoot as well as a greasy ball to test both teams passing skills.

The visitors settled early, and they tried to make inroads into Dunbar’s half with a series of forward drives. The home defence remained steadfast and resolute but conceded the first penalty after a home forward was deemed to have dived over the ruck. The visitors chose to tap and go but again ferocious tackling saw the ball stolen and Blair Mills stormed up field after a neat break only for the last pass to not go to hand.

The visitors grew in confidence and after pirating the ball from a maul they drove deep into the home twenty-two to again test the home team’s defence. Again, the wet and greasy ball saw the ball spilled in contact and Dunbar took advantage to counterattack through Ewan Patrizio who showed good pace and determination to drive close to Livingston’s twenty-two line.

The resultant lineout saw the visiting Stand Off clear his lines effectively and they were rewarded with a scrum after a home player fumbled his attempted catch. After a strong scrummage the ball was moved quickly through the hands catching the home team offside. Unfortunately, Dunbar lost another ten yards for backchat to the referee and the visiting Scrum Half duly dispatched his kick between the uprights for the games first score.

Dunbar began to put pressure on the visitors and again Blair Mills broke clear only for the move to break down due to a knock on close to the Livingston tryline. Undeterred by this setback the home team were given an opportunity after a crooked feen by the Livingston Scrum Half saw the home forwards and backs combine well to enter the twenty-two, again fast recycling saw the ball moved to Mike Hall who danced his way through a bemused visiting defence to score the first try of the game. Robbie Cockburn converted, and Dunbar’s lead was 7-3.

The visitors again raised their game and secured possession to again drive into Dunbar’s 22 only for possession to be lost due to the excellent defensive work of Blair Mills. The visiting team secured possession and kicked deep into the twenty-two and when the pass did not go to hand it was Livingston’s centre who was first to react kicking the ball on then regaining possession to slide over by the posts for a classic counterattack try. The conversion was good, and Livingston now led 10-7.

Half time Dunbar 7 Livingston 10.

The second half began with a drastic improvement in the weather and the home team who had been tested both in the backs and forwards were now looking to gain a foothold in the game and they encamped themselves in Livingston’s half. Again, the forwards and backs were combining well and after a spell of incessant pressure the ball was again recycled quickly, and a grateful Mike Hall was given the space to stroll over for the home team’s second try. A successful conversion saw the score 14-10 in Dunbar’s favour.

The visitors were clearly shell-shocked by this early reverse, and they lost their big centre who was sin-binned for a tackle offence. Sensing an opportunity to increase their lead the home side began to dominate possession and after a series of forward drives the ball was finally moved through the backs creating the room for Mike Hall again to outsprint the covering defence to score his hat-trick try. Robbie Cockburn converted to make the score 21-10.

Still with a numerical advantage the home side continued to keep Livingston encamped in their own twenty-two and after a series of driving mauls it was a grateful Ewan Patrizio who was on hand to power over from close range for Dunbar’s bonus point try. Another successful conversion and the score difference was up to eighteen points.

The visitors to their credit continued to probe and when a high tackle saw the home side reduced to fourteen players Livingston seized the initiative and they fashioned out a pushover try after sucking in the home sides fringe defence. The conversion sailed between the posts to take the score to 28-17.

Despite the home team being young in age this season has seen them grow in confidence trusting their gameplan and this allied to a superior fitness they continued to vary their attacking moves and they were rewarded when a tiring visiting conceded penalties within their own twenty-two and a grateful home captain Robbie Cockburn slotted over two kicks in quick succession to increase their lead to 34-17. The referee blew for full time and the home side had secured their fifth bonus point win from their five league matches so far.

A hard-fought win against doughty opponents saw the home side win ugly for the first time in the league but with a 100% record there is lots to admire in how they are approaching each game.

This Saturday they travel to Academy Park Edinburgh to play Leith where they are hoping to keep their good run going.